Tender Rebel by Johanna Lindsey Page A

spend an evening.”
    James smiled. “I do believe that’s his way of telling us to run along, Connie. Come on, let’s leave the poor boy to his pining. You never know. She might even venture forth again and make this chaperoning business more to his liking.” Here he chuckled. “It won’t be otherwise. He wouldn’t brave that den of vultures any more than I would, even for her.”
    James was wrong on both counts.

Chapter Seven
    “ W ell, what’s he doing here? That’s what I want to know. Lady Crandal doesn’t approve of his sort. She’d never have invited him.”
    “Sir Anthony doesn’t need an invite, m’dear. That one does as he pleases.”
    “But he’s always had the decency to stay away from our parties.”
    “Decency?” A brief laugh. “There’s no decency about it. He simply can’t abide these affairs. And it’s no wonder. There probably isn’t a lady here who wouldn’t like to reform that particular rake.”
    “There’s nothing funny about it, Lenore. He shows up, and half the women in the room fall in love with him. I’ve seen it happen before. That’s why a hostess wouldn’t dream of inviting him to her party if she wants it to go smoothly. He causes too much of a stir.”
    “But it does give us something to talk about for months thereafter. Admit it. He does make a delicious subject, doesn’t he?”
    “That’s easy for you to say, Lenore.” This from another lady, clearly distressed. “You don’t have a daughter out this season. My God, look at my Jane over there. She can’t take her eyes off him. I just know she’ll never accept Percy now. She can be so difficult.”
    “There’s no harm in looking, Alice. You need only tell your girl a few stories about him and she’ll be properly horrified and glad he didn’t notice her.”

    “But what’s he doing here? I still want to know.” The question was repeated more sharply.
    “Probably keeping an eye on his son,” Lenore offered the ladies smugly.
    “His what? ”
    “Take a look at the boy dancing with Sarah Lordes. Now, if he isn’t the mirror image of Sir Anthony, then they ought to do away with mirrors.”
    “Good Lord, another Malory bastard! That family really ought to be more circumspect.”
    “Well, the marquis acknowledged his. I wonder if Sir Anthony will do the same.”
    “This is priceless! However could they have kept him a secret this long?”
    “Must have been hidden away until now. But it appears the Malorys are going to be full of surprises this season. I understand the third brother is back.”
    “Third brother?” This from a new party. “But there are only three.”
    “Where have you been, Lidia?” Lenore said cattily. “There are four, and the third is the black sheep.”
    “But I thought Sir Anthony was that.”
    “Being the youngest, he’s only a close second. Oh, I could tell you stories about the other one. He’s been gone for years and years, but no one knows where or why.”
    “Then it’s no wonder I didn’t know he existed,” Lidia replied stiffly in self-defense.
    “Hello again.”
    Roslynn was annoyed by the untimely interruption, but at least it wasn’t one of her young admirers. Fortunately, most of them had retired to the card room for a while, leaving her free to become better acquainted with the gentlemen on her new list. But instead of seeking one out, she had gotten sidetracked by the numerous conversations that erupted when Anthony Malory had stepped into the ballroom.
    Roslynn had unobtrusively settled herself behind one group of older ladies and made no bones about eavesdropping. There was no use denying it. She found the subject under discussion infinitely fascinating and listened avidly to every word. But now someone wanted to engage her in conversation, and there was no help for it.
    She glanced at Lady Eden, yet still tried to keep one ear tuned in on the older ladies in front of her. “Tired of dancing so soon?”
    The younger woman was amused, recognizing